Food First

'Anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you.' Misty Copeland

This Sunday, join Dr. Phil Knight, Gerry Brisson, President & CEO of Gleaners Community Food Bank and Carolyn Bloodworth, Executive Director of Corporate Giving of Consumers Energy on Food First Michigan! Carolyn is bringing HOPE to the conversation and is of great influence and an even greater heart.

'A true friend walks in when the rest of the world walks out.' Carolyn was there FIRST. She was one of the first calls to Phil when the COVID-19 pandemic hit wanting to know what Phil and our food bank network needed. Soon thereafter, Consumers provided the network with $250,000 grant because they knew food was going to be an issue in months to come. She and the team at Consumers Energy, are creating positive change during consistent times of negativity.

Amid the pandemic, Consumers Energy made sure the stabilizing forces were there. Their team's safety and well-being was of utmost priority. They rallied together as Michiganders do by mobilizing team matching contribution programs, provided support for all of the Michigan Area United Ways, Senior quarantine boxes, and invested $1.8 million in Michigan small businesses. The list goes on. Carolyn is a champion. Not only is she a champion of our network, but she is a champion for her fellow Michiganders.

The food bank network is here. Here to stand up to the BULLY of food insecurity.

The 'perfect storm' is brewing and the 4th wave of the pandemic is coming. The wave of the indefinite - interwoven components of food insecurity that are threatening us like attributes of a catastrophic storm.

This Sunday, join Dr. Phil Knight and Gerry Brisson the President & CEO of Gleaners Community Food Bank on Food First Michigan as they discuss the heavy weight of the 4th wave of the pandemic. They share how it will affect the Michigan food bank network, the National School Lunch Program and how U.S. Department of Agriculture is choosing to DECLINE waivers proposed by Senator Debbie Stabenow and State Superintendent Dr. Rice, allowing food banks to participate in the programs and make sure families are food secure during COVID-19.

It is common knowledge that a compromised immune system is one of the worst things to have during a global pandemic such as this, and having access to healthy and nutritious food is a CRITICAL component of keeping immune systems healthy.

We CANNOT treat the coming storm of food insecurity like it's bad weather.

We need more than alerts.

We need more than wishful thinking.

We NEED the truth!

'It's kind of fun to do the impossible.' Walt Disney

This Sunday, join Dr. Phil Knight, Gerry Brisson the President & CEO of Gleaners Community Food Bank, and Sherri Welch, Senior Reporter for Crain's Detroit Business on Food First Michigan!

Sherri grew up as a Detroiter and is doing her part in telling the story of Detroit's comeback. She has written from many different non-profit's perspectives during the pandemic and is now honing in on the '4th wave of reality'. The 4th wave surrounds the federally funded food programs within the school districts and how they will soon shift back to 'normal' due to schools re-opening, whether virtual or face-to-face. In turn, creating a gap as we shift due to the federal food programs dropping off at the same time and ALL allocation programs will drop significantly. This equates to the perfect storm.

Perspective:

Pre-COVID: The MI food bank network was distributing an average of 2.6 million lbs. of food / week.

During COVID: The MI food bank network has averaged 4.5 million lbs. of food / week.

And, now due to the federal programs and allocation dropping off, food distribution is expected to increase by 15% - that equates to 667,000 MORE lbs. / week.

It will be ALL hands on deck this fall and winter in Michigan to help us do the IMPOSSIBLE!

Related article: https://www.crainsdetroit.com/nonprofit/food-banks-expect-spike-demand-meals-kids-shift-back-school-delivered-models

“Never underestimate the power of a small group of people to change the world, indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

This Sunday, join Dr. Phil Knight, Gerry Brisson, President & CEO of Gleaners Community Food Bank, and Lewis Roubal, Chief Deputy Director for Opportunity at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for Food First Michigan! In this episode of Food First, Lewis shines a light on several food programs that the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has administered for those in need throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Phil, Gerry, and Lewis also discuss ways in which Michigan’s food bank network and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services have partnered together to fill in the gaps for all Michiganders. We are convinced that hunger is a problem that can be solved – and so are the leaders appointed to the newly established Food Security Council, chaired by Dr. Phil Knight, who will work together to take on the challenge of food insecurity in Michigan.

Tune in for the conversation Sunday evening at 9:00 PM on WJR Radio or NewsTalk 760 AM!

As always, FOOD FIRST!

#foodsecurity #morefoodmoreoften2morepeople

COVID-19 has consumed our minds and hearts the last 4.5 months. So many people have faced hardships because of the pandemic - we've pushed our bodies to DO more, so we can SERVE more!

Pre-COVID 1.4 million Michiganders were food insecure with roughly 300,000 - 400,000 of those being children. Food insecurity is brutal and has 'no face'. It could be your neighbor, your coworker, your grandma - it doesn't discriminate.

Tonight at 9 p.m. join Dr. Phil Knight; Gerry Brisson, President & CEO of Gleaners Community Food Bank; Paul Elam, Chief Strategy Officer of Michigan Public Health Institute and Bezil Taylor, Graduate Assistant at the MSU School of Social Work. These inspiring gentlemen thoroughly discuss how food insecurity is a public health challenge and it must be in the forefront of ALL of our minds while taking the stigma away.

Both Paul and Bezil, are strong advocates for those in need and using their one handful of life to the fullest extent!

As always, food FIRST!

“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them,” – Albert Einstein.

This Sunday, join Dr. Phil Knight, Gerry Brisson, President & CEO of Gleaners Community Food Bank, and Amanda Sweetman, Regional Director of Farming and Healthy Lifestyles at Trinity Michigan for Food First Michigan! Amanda has worked as a scientist, farmer, educator, chef, and community builder. She discusses the work being done through St. Joe’s hospital-based farms as they work to grow healthy communities through food, education, and relationships. Through their various programs for individuals of all ages and backgrounds, they are empowering people on their path to better health. Phil, Gerry, and Amanda explore the close relationship between food security and health, and the work being done to alleviate hunger for patients at St. Joe’s. Learn more at stjoeshealth.org and follow their work on Facebook and Instagram.

Tune in for Food First MI Sunday evening at 9:00 PM on WJR Radio or Newstalk 760 AM!

As always, FOOD FIRST!

#foodsecurity #morefoodmoreoften2morepeople

"I believe that you see something that you want to get done, you cannot give up, and you cannot give in." -Representative John Lewis

Hear why Joe Tate State Representative of House District 2 vividly reminds us of the late Representative John Lewis by exuding leadership and kindness. He comes from a family of service and is standing proudly in the gap for those who cannot in his district. Joe truly understands the prevalence and priority of having food security in people's lives - and for that, we are grateful.

As always, food FIRST!

Trust has built our foodbank network into one of the most trusted partners in America, and here at home in Michigan. While the Food Bank Council of Michigan is very young, we were born out of need - and, that need was to be sure that the food being distributed to the community was safe.

With the Michigan food banks, the public trust is so high that Governor Gretchen Whitmer and her team, as well as the legislature, could trust the Food Bank Council of Michigan and the 7 Feeding America regional food banks with an appropriation out of the COVID Emergency Funding.

Tune in to hear one of our newest and most trusted partners, Kyle Maas, VP of Sales and Marketing at Michigan Turkey Association. The MI Turkey Association recognized innovation as meeting opportunity and chose to step up in the ways that they were fit to do so. We are grateful for their partnership and look forward to working with them to provide an essential source of protein to our fellow Michiganders in need.

As always, food FIRST!

Part III of The Economic Impact of COVID-19 with our very own Dr. Dawn Opel, Director of Research and Strategic Initiatives. She puts the cookies on the lower shelf by applying the research from the University of Michigan to estimate how long this current period of inflated need will last as the long tail of the pandemic begins to unfurl.

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased demand for emergency food assistance in Michigan, and that demand is expected to stay elevated for the foreseeable future. Post-shelter-in-place conditions—namely, uncertain K-12 school timelines/schedules and unemployment statistics—bring elevated needs for emergency food to the FBCM network of food banks. This elevated need will last through 2022 according to models created by our national organization, Feeding America, and by statisticians at the University of Michigan.

As always, food FIRST!

June 28, 2020